As fierce fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin has begun a generational shift at the highest levels of the Russian military. On May 15, Vladimir Putin dismissed the 70-year-old Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces, General Oleg Salyukov, and replaced him with a much younger figure: 50-year-old Andrei Mordvichev. Unlike many of his predecessors, Mordvichev is known not only for his age but also for his direct involvement on the front lines — a rarity among Russian generals.
Mordvichev, in turn, was succeeded as Commander of the Central Military District — responsible for the Kursk front — by Colonel General Valery Solodchuk, 54.
Salyukov, known for his close ties to Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov (69) and former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, was appointed to the Security Council of the Russian Federation. According to analysts and Le Monde, this move is widely seen as a symbolic retirement — an honorary exile for senior officers. Gerasimov himself is expected to follow a similar path as he approaches the age of 70 in September.
This is not a purge, but rather a natural rotation. Salyukov, for instance, had only recently commanded the May 9 Victory Day military parade in Moscow’s Red Square. Still, his image has been tarnished by a BBC investigation revealing that his family had amassed significant wealth through the organization of lavish parades and military celebrations funded by the Ministry of Defense.
Mordvichev: A Battle-Hardened General with Political Ambitions
The appointment of Andrei Mordvichev has been warmly welcomed by Russia’s militarist circles. Described by Le Monde as having “a square head, a broad jaw, and piercing blue eyes,” Mordvichev gained prominence in September 2024 after declaring on state TV channel Rossiya 1 that the invasion of Ukraine was merely “a springboard to a future war with Eastern Europe.”
Mordvichev is not just known for his words, but also for his battlefield experience. In 2022, Ukrainian media mistakenly reported his death. However, a database of wounded Russian soldiers accessed by Le Monde reveals that he suffered a serious leg injury from a landmine on April 11, 2022, and was hospitalized. He was most likely wounded during the final phase of the bloody siege of Mariupol — a battle he commanded. For this, he has been accused of war crimes by both the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office and the human rights organization Human Rights Watch.
Yet in the eyes of Russian military bloggers, these feats are seen as credentials. In addition to the capture of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Mordvichev is credited with the 2024 seizure of Avdiivka — a fortress-like city that resisted Russian forces for over two years. For this, Putin awarded him Russia’s highest honor: the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
The battle for Avdiivka came at an enormous cost. According to U.S. intelligence estimates, Russia lost at least 13,000 troops killed or wounded and around 220 military vehicles — a staggering 13-to-1 equipment loss ratio in Ukraine’s favor. Nevertheless, the Kremlin celebrated the city’s fall as a symbolic victory.
Mordvichev’s Tactics: Drones, Motorbikes, and High-Casualty Assaults
Mordvichev is also seen as a tactical innovator. Russian military bloggers credit him as the first commander to mandate the use of drones in every combat unit under his command. Starting in 2024, he began promoting the use of lightweight vehicles — including motorbikes and quad bikes — to transport infantry rapidly to assault zones. These unarmored but highly mobile methods aim to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses through sheer maneuverability.
Independent military analyst Gela Vasadze, writing on his Telegram channel Volyamedia, explains that while this tactic is extremely costly in human lives, it has proven militarily effective. “It’s virtually impossible to approach Ukrainian positions in armored vehicles — drones take them out immediately. But small, fast-moving assault teams can ‘gnaw’ away at Ukrainian defenses,” he writes.
Successor to Gerasimov?
Many of Mordvichev’s supporters in Russia view his promotion as a stepping stone toward the position of Chief of the General Staff, replacing Valery Gerasimov. Although Vasadze refrains from making such predictions, he does believe the Kremlin is preparing for further escalation in the war — and Mordvichev’s appointment is a clear signal.
According to Le Monde, this personnel policy marks a strategic pivot by the Kremlin: it is prioritizing generals who are capable of advancing at any cost. Human losses are no longer the primary concern. The key objective is territorial gains. That logic likely explains Mordvichev’s meteoric rise — a commander who not only speaks of war but has fought it firsthand.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Le Monde. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Le Monde.
All rights to the original text belong to Le Monde.
